METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A TUNNEL-SHAPED COVER OR SCREEN OVER A TRAFFIC ROUTE, SUCH AS A ROAD OR RAILWAY

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a preferably tunnel-shaped sound screen (16, 17) over a traffic route (1) while not impeding the moving traffic, which is achieved by placing a temporary covering (6-8) over part of the traffic route, under which covering the traffic can move, and by producing the actual screen over this temporary and preferably rollable covering in the form of a cover, for example by employing the concrete spraying technique inside an inflatable form (9).

Description: Method of constructing a tunnel-shaped cover or screen over a traffic route, such as a road or railway. The invention relates to a method of constructing a screen over a traffic route which ensures as much as possible and to the vr -uired extent that the traffic causes no visual or audible nuisance. The increase of traffic on roads and railways has, in many places, led to noise pollution. For many years, sound-insulating walls have been placed between the traffic route and the built-up area, which is generally intended for housing, in order to alleviate the problem, and a plurality of proposals in this respect is known. In this context, the guideline used is that if the traffic route is hidden from view of the inhabitants of the built-up area, the noise pollution emanating from the traffic has been reduced to a sufficient degree. Meanwhile, experience has shown that this form of controlling the noise emanating from traffic, in particular motorized traffic, is not sufficient, which, in some places, has caused the design of the screen to be changed to the form of a cover which partly extends over the traffic route. However, the last-mentioned solution can only be implemented in the case of a traffic route to be newly constructed, such as a motorway, but cannot be implemented once this route is in use, as traffic would be seriously impeded by the construction work, if not be made impossible. It is known, from Lai -Open International Patent Applications WO 93/02264 and WO 93/04246 to cover completely a traffic route, such as a motorway, by fitting a tunnel-shaped cover over said traffic route, which cover can easily be constructed according to the methods described in these publications by inflating a canopy and spraying the inner LI of the canopy with hardenable material, such as plastic foam and concrete, thus creating, as it were, an aboveground tunnel which may be provided, where desired, with apertures for ventilation or light which are directed away from the built-up area, and which furthermore protects the covered route to a reasonable degree from weather influences. However, in this case the problem that there can be no movement of traffic during construction also occurs, so that there is a problem in relation to an existing traffic facility which causes noise pollution, which problem the invention aims to solve. The invention achieves said aim by providing the traffic route (road and/or railway) with a temporary covering, over a distance which is essentially equal to the length of the screen section to be constructed, of such width and height that the traffic can move under the covering and of such construction that the traffic is protected with respect to the work being undertaken outside the temporary covering for producing the screen or screen section. In this manner, it is possible to cover a road with four lanes or six lanes completely either by means of one cover or by means of two parallel covers with respect to the environment while the traffic can pass through during the construction, albeit to a smaller extent, i.e. on a smaller number of lanes. Which method is employed for constructing the permanent cover outside the temporary covering and thus over the latter is irrelevant. However, it will be obvious that for this purpose, it is preferable to use a method which makes economic sense and in respect of which there is sufficient know-how in order to achieve the result without problems. This is possible, in particular, if a method for the construction of the screen in the form of a tunnel-shaped cover can be used in which an inflatable form is placed over a specific length of the traffic route for constructing the cover, which form, in its inflated state, determines the cross section of the cover and is fastened by the lower edges to a foundation which is to be produced beforehand along both sides of the route. Said inflatable form is provided with seals on the ends transverse to the traffic route which seal with respect to the route on the ground. After the form, which is accessible via an air lock, has been inflated, the inner wall of the form is sprayed with hardening material, such as plastic foam and concrete, the concrete being reinforced, all this as disclosed in International Patent Applications WO 93/02264, WO 93/04246 and based on the principle disclosed in European Patent 0 357 151, respectively. According to the invention, the temporary covering is sealed with respect to the traffic space located under the latter and with respect to the end seal in such a manner that the pressurized work space of the inflated form is delimited on the outside by the inflatable form, on the inside by the temporary covering and on the ends by sealing screens between the form and the temporary covering. Thus, the pressurized work space is limited to a relatively narrow space on both sides of the temporary covering and on top of the roof of the temporary covering. This also means that the space which is to be kept filled with air by slight excess pressure is smaller than if the temporary covering were not present, while the traffic under the temporary covering can move along unimpeded and without risk of any damage. Preferably, the temporary covering has sufficient supporting strength so that the equipment for spraying the plastic foam and concrete and for fitting the reinforcing rods, if required, can be placed on the roof of the temporary covering. Special equipment having lifting arms, as customary in the production of dome-shaped bodies according to the method disclosed in EP-B-0 357 151. is then not required. From the floor or a small scaffold in the narrow work space on both sides of the side walls of the temporary covering, the side walls can be sprayed up to and including the height of the roof of the temporary covering, following which the uppermost section can be sprayed from the temporary covering. The temporary covering is preferably displaceable, in particular rollable, so that the temporary covering, after removal of the end seals, can be shifted over a part of the route once a part section having a length of, for example, 50 meters of the permanent cover has been constructed, following which a further canopy is attached to the previously constructed part, the seals are put back in place and the space between the temporary covering and the inflatable form is brought back to its required form by blowing air in, following which the process of spraying and reinforcing can be repeated. Of course, in that case, i.e. when employing a spraying method in an inflatable form which maintains its shape by excess pressure, the temporary covering has to be and remain relatively air-tight, also along the lower edge, where it joins the floor. Of course, this can be achieved in a simple manner using suitable materials and sealing strips, but the invention provides for a simple possibility by coating the temporary covering with sealing film on the side facing the work space, which film is durable or is protected against damage. The temporary covering itself is thus also coated or sealed with film along the side walls and the roof, which film is kept in contact with the temporary covering by the excess pressure and ensures a sealing action on the floor or the road surface, respectively, at the location of the lower edge. The end seals can be quarter-sphere sections which are fastened so as to be detachable, all this as described in the abovementioned Patent Application WO 93/02264. The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross section of the device according to the invention for applying the method according to the invention; Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 and shows another stage of the method; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inflatable form with the temporary covering for a part section; Figure 4 schematically shows the result; Figure 5 is a side view of the covering shown in Figure 4, viewed from left to right in Figure 4; Figure 6 schematically shows a further step of the method, and Figure 7 schematically shows how the method can be applied with an existing railway. Figure 1 shows a road surface 1 having three lanes, being one half of a motorway, the second half of which is located to the left of Figure 1 and is not shown. On both sides of these three lanes, foundations 2 and 3 extending in the longitudinal direction have been produced which are intended for bearing the screen to be constructed and for attaching the inflatable form still to be discussed. A temporary covering, consisting of side walls 6 and 7 and a roof 8, has been placed over the three lanes to be used by the traffic and delimited by the crash barriers 4 and 5> An inflatable form 9 is attached to the foundations 2 and 3. said form consisting of a strong UV-resistant cloth of, for example, polyvinylchloride, which can have a suitable colour and is connected to end seals 10 and 11, as shown in Figure 3 and by means of a broken line in Figure 6. These end seals are connected to the form 9 so as to be detachable at 12 and are connected in a sealing manner to the ends of the side walls 6 and 7. respectively, and the roof 8. Therefore, there is a work space between the inflatable form 9 » as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the temporary covering 6, 7 and 8, which work space is designated generally by 13 in the section above the roof 8 of the temporary covering, and by 14 and 15. respectively, on the two sides of the temporary covering. The foam and concrete can be sprayed on, respectively, in the form of a layer of foam 16 and a layer of concrete 17 from the work spaces 14 and 15, respectively, if necessary using a scaffold 18, as well as from the roof 8 of the work space. In Figure 1, supplies of reinforcing rods are deposited at 19a, 19b and 19c, which can be fastened in the manner described in one of the abovementioned publications during the construction process and be incorporated in the shotcrete. Figure 3 shows an air lock at 20. This can be installed at various locations and is known per se from the so-called inflatable canopies and from the method of the abovementioned European Patent 0 357 151. Figures 4 and 5 show the result in the form of a cover 21 over a three-lane motorway, which cover may have apertures 22 for air and light on the side remote from the built-up area 23. Obviously, the second half of the motorway for traffic travelling in the opposite direction and designated by 24 can be provided with a covering in the same manner, but in many cases, this will no longer be necessary. Furthermore, it will be clear that the covering can be provided with various forms of windows or apertures, depending on the desired light distribution and ventilation facilities, provided that the location of the apertures is chosen such that no sound can penetrate to the outside in the direction of the built-up area. The inflatable form remains behind as permanent formwork. It can have a suitable colour and is UV-resistant. It protects the underlying foam and concrete, respectively, from weather influences. If desired, the cover can be hidden from view by earthing up and covering with vegetation. At the locations where apertures are to be provided, no hardenable material is sprayed and the film of the form is subsequently cut away in those locations. The temporary covering has obviously been removed from the constructed section. Figure 6 schematically shows how, in a constructed section 21 having apertures 22 of the kind as shown in Figures 4 and 5. after removal of the end seals 10 and 11, the temporary covering 8 is displaced in the direction of the arrow 25, for example by placing the covering on rollers which can indeed roll over the existing carriageway. In Figure 6, the temporary covering has been partly moved out of the already constructed part section 21 of the cover. As soon as the left-hand end comes near the right-hand end of the already constructed cover, another inflatable form can be fitted which, in addition to being attached to the foundation, is also attached to the already constructed section 21 of the cover, while furthermore, at that location, a seal is provided which is detachable but which does not have to be the same shape as the quarter- sphere seal designated by 10. At 26 and 27, partly rolled-up seals are shown, which provide a seal at the location of the ends between the inflatable form and the end edges of the local covering, after the temporary covering has been removed. The seal of the local covering with respect to the floor 1 can be effected in many ways which are known per se. A simple and effective seal is achieved if a sealing film 28 is applied over the entire temporary covering, i.e. along the outside of the side walls 6 and 7 and over the roof 8, and extending over the entire length of the temporary covering, as indicated in Figure 1 by broken lines, which film also extends over a part or over the entire width of the floor section 29 of the work spaces 14 and 15. Figure 7 shows a dual-track railway 30 having catenary supports 31 and overhead wire 32. Over these, the temporary covering 33 is provided and over the latter, the inflatable form 34 having end seals 35 and 36 and adjoining an already constructed cover 37- *******

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Method of constructing a screen over a traffic route which ensures as much as possible and to the required extent that the traffic causes no visual or audible nuisance, characterized in that the traffic route (1) is provided with a temporary covering (6,7.8), over a distance which is essentially equal to the length of a screen section (21) to be constructed, of such width and height that the traffic can move under the covering and of such construction that the traffic is protected with respect to the work being undertaken outside the temporary covering (6,7.8) for producing the screen or screen section. 2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the temporary covering (6,7.8) is displaceable, in particular Tollable. 3. Method of constructing a screen according to Claim 1 or 2, in, the form of a tunnel-shaped cover (21) in which an inflatable form (9) is placed over a specific length of the traffic route for constructing the cover, which form (9), in its inflated state, determines the cross section of the cover and is fastened by the lower edges to a foundation (2,3) which is to be produced beforehand along both sides of the route (1), which inflatable form (9) is provided with seals (10,11,26,27) on the ends transverse to the traffic route which seal with respect to the route (1) on the ground, and in which, after the form, which is accessible via an air lock, has been inflated, the inner wall of the form is sprayed with hardening material, such as plastic foam and concrete, the concrete being reinforced, characterized in that the temporary covering (6,7.8) is sealed with respect to the traffic space located under the latter and with respect to the end seals (10,11,26,27) in such a manner that the pressurized work space (13,14,15) of the inflated form (9) is delimited on the outside by the inflatable form (9), on the inside by the temporary covering (6,7.8) and on the ends by sealing screens (10,11,26,27) between the form (9) and the temporary covering (6,7.8). 4. Method according to Claim 3. characterized in that the temporary covering is coated with sealing film (28) on the side facing the form. 5. Method according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the temporary covering (6,7.8) has sufficient supporting strength so that the equipment for spraying can be placed thereon and spraying can be performed.

Inventors: VOS CHARLES JACQUES, WERNSEN PAUL, VOS, CHARLES, JACQUES, WERNSEN, PAUL
Applicants: INT DOME SYSTEMS CYPRUS LTD, VOS CHARLES JACQUES, WERNSEN PAUL, INTERNATIONAL DOME SYSTEMS (CYPRUS) LTD., VOS, CHARLES, JACQUES, WERNSEN, PAUL
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E04G11
IPC codes: E01F8, E04G11, E21D11